Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs tomatillos ( about 12 medium)
3 -4 medium ripe tomatoes
10 -12 cloves garlic, with the peel on
1/4 teaspoon salt, to taste
4 cups kabocha squash, peeled and diced ( about 2 pounds untrimmed)
4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups water, more if needed
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large yellow onions
1/2 cup cilantro, stemmed and coarsely chopped ( 1 small bunch)
2 dried red serrano chilies or 2 other dried hot red chiles
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove and discard the husks from the tomatillos.
Wash them and cut in half.
Trim the tomatoes and quarter them.
Quarter and slice the onions.
Arrange the tomatillos, tomatoes, and all but one clove of the unpeeled garlic on a cookie sheet.
Sprinkle lightly with salt.
Roast for 35-45 minutes, until the vegetables are soft and beginning to char in spots.
Remove and let cool for a few minutes.
While the vegetables are roasting, combine the diced squash, the vegetable broth, and 2 cups of water in a large soup pot.
Simmer, covered, for at least 45 minutes, or until the squash is very tender.
While everything else is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet and add the onions and the remaining clove of garlic, peeled and minced, and a dash of salt.
Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the onions are caramelized to a dark golden brown.
When the roasted vegetables are cool enough to handle, scrape the red tomatoes off their skins with a spoon.
Squeeze the soft garlic out of the husks and discard the husks.
Combine the red tomato pulp, the tomatillos, and the soft garlic in a blender or food processor with a little water, and puree them.
Add the puree to the broth and squash, along with the caramelized onions and the chopped cilantro.
If the broth has greatly reduced during cooking, add some water.
Toast the dried red chiles in a hot pan or over a flame until they blister or show black spots.
Chop them, removing some of the seeds if you want to reduce the heat, and stir them into the soup.
Simmer everything together for 5-10 minutes.
Serve hot, with warm corn tortillas or any good bread.
Servings: 8-10
Time preparation: 60 min.
Time total: 120 min.